Abou Diaby says Arsenal can catch the top four with 15 games remaining. Photograph: Geoff Newton/Sportsphoto/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

The Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby maintains the Gunners have no intention of "giving up" on their title ambitions despite falling further behind the top four.

While the leaders Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa all won their midweek fixtures, both Arsenal and Liverpool could only manage a draw.

However, Diaby feels the manner of the Gunners' result away at Everton, secured by a goal from Robin van Persie deep into stoppage time, shows Arsène Wenger's side have the character needed to force themselves back into contention over the remaining 15 Premier League games.

Arsenal extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches, but are now five points behind fourth-placed Villa and eight behind United, who have played a game fewer.

"We are not going to let up until the end of the season," said Diaby. "We are going to try to get points in every game and won't give up. We are very focused on our games.

"Of course, Aston Villa have been fantastic and are in front of us, but we are really focused on our job and what is most important is what we are doing on the pitch."

Meanwhile, Wenger believes the deal to bring the Russia international Andrei ­Arshavin to the Emirates is "90% completed".

"There is nothing new on Arshavin," he said last night after his side's 1–1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park. "I have been concentrating on the game and not taking calls. But the deal is maybe 90% completed. However, the final 10% of any deal can be the most difficult."

Arsenal have been negotiating with the attacking midfielder's club, Zenit St Petersburg, for several weeks and the proposed deal has been stalling over the transfer fee – Arsenal are believed to have offered £12m – and the player's terms and bonuses.

"Maybe in the next two days," said Wenger, with the end of the transfer window looming on 2 February. "In this kind of job it can be difficult at this stage because people can change their minds completely."